Things Non-OTFers Say

As Orangetheory passes 1,000 locations worldwide, it’s rare to meet someone who doesn’t have some level of familiarity with the hottest workout in the nation. But if you’re a member of Orangetheory Fitness in Minnetonka, MN, it’s easy to recognize non-members by these giveaway phrases.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember life before Orangetheory here in Minnetonka, MN.

It’s hard to remember a time when we couldn’t explain how an Orangetheory class works. When we couldn’t tell someone about base, push, and all out paces. Or the heart rate monitor that shows splat points adding up throughout class to achieve the after-burn effect. It’s hard to remember a time when our coaches and fellow members weren’t some of our biggest fans—and friends.

In fact, compared to how focused, alert, and alive we feel now, our pre-OTF days seem almost a blur.

But we were all non-OTFers once—and we can sense current non-OTFers in a few tall-tale giveaway phrases. We may have said some of these things before we were part of the Orange Nation ourselves, but now that we’re on the Orange Side, there’s no going back.

Which of these have you encountered?

1. They ask you about your “Orange Therapy” or “Orange Fitness” workout.

Orangetheory has become such a central part of our lives that it’s always a bit of a surprise to hear someone call it by the wrong name. We only correct them half of the time. After all, “therapy” isn’t such a stretch. Our time in the Orange Zone is our time to conquer stress, fear, and doubt—and we come out of each workout both physically and mentally stronger than before.

2. They ask you how many “splats” you earned today.

Props to the friends and loved ones supporting our fitness goals and checking in with us to see how our Orangetheory classes are going, but how many times have we told them it’s “splat points”? Twelve or more splat points to unlock the after-burn effect and keep burning calories for up to 36 hours! Fun fact: the splat itself was designed to represent a fat cell bursting.

3. They insist they need to build up their endurance before they can do Orangetheory.

If you’ve been a member of Orangetheory Minnetonka for some time, you’ve likely urged more than one friend or family member to try a class with you. The more excuses you hear, the better you should feel about having had the will power to sign up, get off the coach, and change your life for the better. The funniest excuses come from people who think they need to get in shape before they start working on their fitness at Orangetheory. Orangetheory is for all levels, as you already know and see in class—and no matter how different each of us is, it’s amazing to see how much we’ve all progressed since our first day.

4. “Drinks tonight?”

Getting a good night’s sleep and crushing that 6:00am workout has come to take priority in your life. It’s not that you don’t ever go out and have a good time—but instead you’ve become more health-conscious, actively choosing to enjoy life in ways that are healthy for your body. The more strength you’ve built up with Orangetheory, the more you’ve started engaging in other active behaviors, like a 5k race or a kayaking day-trip with friends. After a full, active day like that, bed-time is more appealing than partying—and you also don’t mind waking up fully alert and refreshed the next day, ready to continue enjoying everything life has to offer. You’ve come to feel very little remorse for turning down a wild night out on the town.

5. They draw a comparison between Orangetheory and Crossfit.

Not all HIIT workouts are the same. No disrespect to Crossfitters, but we’re very happy not to be jumping up onto boxes as part of our Orangetheory workouts. Orangetheory truly is for all fitness levels and incorporates modifications for varying physical abilities. We focus on science to deliver results, and our coaches will always help us perfect our form to avoid injury.

6. They say they can just do their own HIIT workout by themselves at their current gym for cheaper.

All of us know there’s very little that compares to the energy here at Orangetheory Minnetonka. Everything from the way we’re welcomed by the front desk staff to the camaraderie of fellow members, heart-pumping playlists, and personal attention from the coaches keep us excited to keep going—to keep burning toward our fitness goals at Orangetheory. The full-body workout is different every day, and we have someone telling us exactly what to do so we maximize efficiency and get results in 60 minutes. No guessing if we’re choosing the right routine or executing moves with proper form. No waiting for equipment to free up. Most of us probably had some price hesitation before we joined, but none of us now regret a healthy investment that delivers better quality of life.

7. “I need to lose weight.”

Weight loss is a perfectly admirable goal, and many OTFers do have a target goal weight. The annual Orangetheory Transformation Challenge helps members go “All Out” and take those goals seriously, rewarding members who lose the highest percent of their total body weight. That being said, the longer we’ve been part of the Orange Nation, the less we focus on weight. We’re here to do what’s right for our bodies. We’re here to gain strength—and confidence! We’re here because for the first time in our lives, we know that we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be. All that other stuff, like weight loss, just comes along with the package, but in the grand scheme of things, weight is just a number on a scale.

8. They call Orangetheory a cult.

This one always makes us smile. We can understand how it might seem that way from the outside. We openly share our addiction to the workout and continuously talk about our amazing Fit Fam. Any time we meet another OTFer, it’s an instant connection and shared point of interest for conversation. We make a point of visiting an Orangetheory studio in every town we travel to, even if we’re just there for one or two nights. We snap selfies wearing our OTF swag and check in on Facebook to humblebrag that we’re at our favorite place with our favorite people again. We love that we’re part of the Orange Nation instead of on the outside, looking in.

Are you ready to be an insider?

We welcome everyone with a huge smile, a high five or a fist bump, and the friendliest Fit Fam you’ll meet. Sure, we may have a laugh at some of the things non-OTFers say and do, but we were all there once. For most of us, Orangetheory has been the best decision we’ve ever made. And it’s a decision that’s open and available to everyone, starting with a free workout at Orangetheory Minnetonka to try it out. We’ll see you soon in the Orange Zone. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Orange Nation!